Recalls of sesame seed products due to pesticide residues

Pe scurt 03-02-2021

In September 2020, Belgium initiated a notification in the EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) concerning residues of an unauthorised substance called ethylene oxide (EO) in various lots of sesame seeds from India. This triggered a chain of enforced testing and controls, leading to withdrawals and recalls of significant amounts of products in many EU Member States, including products such as hummus, bread, and sauces containing sesame. Both conventional and organic products are concerned. A possible explanation according to scientists could be that ethylene oxide has been used for fumigating sesame seeds, to eradicate contamination with salmonella.